Number
260363
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. STAMPER
Title
A substitute ordinance relating to the establishment of a rental property inspection program.
Section
200-23.5 cr
Analysis
This ordinance creates a rental property inspection program that allows the City to designate certain districts wherein rental properties may be initially and periodically inspected for habitability violations.
Body
The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:
Part 1. Section 200-23.5 of the code is created to read:
200-23.5. Rental Property Inspection Program.
1. PURPOSE. The rental property inspection program is created to allow increased inspection of rental property in certain districts to ensure the provision of habitable housing in those areas, as provided under s. 66.0104(2)(e)1m, Wis. Stats.
2. DESIGNATION. Upon finding evidence that an area of the city contains blight, high rates of building code complaints or violations, deteriorating property values, or increases in single-family home conversions to rental units, the common council may designate the area as a rental property inspection program district.
3. INSPECTIONS. a. The department shall conduct an initial inspection of a rental property within a rental property inspection program district.
b. If a habitability violation is discovered during a program inspection or an inspection initiated by a complaint at a rental property within a rental property inspection program district, the department shall issue an order to correct the condition under s. 200-12, including a specification of the violation and the exact location of the violation, and provide the owner no less than 30 days to remedy the violation, after which the department shall re-inspect the property.
b-1. If a habitability violation is discovered that exposes a tenant to imminent danger, the department may issue a remedy period shorter than 30 days.
b-2. The department shall provide an extension to the remedy period upon a showing of good cause.
b-3. If the habitability violation is not corrected within the remedy period, the city may re-inspect the property on an annual basis.
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c. Upon the completion of two consecutive annual inspections without the discovery of new or existing habitability violations, a rental property shall no longer be subject to annual inspections under this section.
d. Any rental property on which no habitability violations are discovered during the initial inspection or during two consecutive annual inspections shall not be inspected under this program for at least five years thereafter.
e. A rental property or unit that is less than 8 years of age shall be exempt from inspections under this program.
f. No inspection of a dwelling unit shall be conducted under this program without the permission of the occupant of the unit, unless under the authority of a special inspection warrant under s. 66.0119, Wis. Stats.
LRB
APPROVED AS TO FORM
K. Broadnax
____________________________
Legislative Reference Bureau
Date: July 22, 2026
______________________
Attorney
IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE ORDINANCE
IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE
____________________________
Office of the City Attorney
Date: ______________________
Requestor
Office of the Mayor
Drafter
LRB181702-2
Gunnar Raasch
6/26/2026